Half of Americans chilling out over global warming, but many hot under the collar about pandemic, terrorists

Public opinion can be such a weird thing. Today comes word of a new poll in which Americans were asked which of four dangers really worries them. Roughly the same proportion that believed global warming “could happen” in their lifetimes believed a collision between the Earth and an asteroid “could happen” before they die.

Now, bear in mind that virtually all climate scientists say global warming already is happening — and, hey, just ask those Alaskans who are seeing their homes and roads crumble as the permafrost melts! The most authoritative, if somewhat dated, look at this is the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Why then did only 24 percent said global warming “could happen” while 25 percent said the asteroid collision “could happen?”

Two other big dangers scored much higher on Americans’ radar, even though they are — while fairly probable — not yet a certainty: a pandemic that wipes out a major portion of the population, and further terrorist attacks on America. Just over 50 percent of those polled said both could happen before they’re pushing up daisies.

When you look at those responding that one of the four either “could” or “will” happen in their lifetimes, it’s 80 percent for terrorist attacks, 74 percent for the pandemic, 47 percent for global warming and 31 percent for the asteroids. It would be fascinating to speak with the 6 percent who said an asteroid collision “will happen” in their lifetime, dontchathink?